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QOwnNotes alternatives · Note-Taking

Alternatives to QOwnNotes with a one-time purchase

The QOwnNotes listing shows no one-time purchase. 50 of the 169 other note-taking apps in this directory can be bought with a one-time purchase.

QOwnNotes is free to use. 31 of them are free or have a free plan.

50 tools · Listings checked up to Nov 13, 2026 · Where the facts come from

The 12 closest to QOwnNotes

  1. DEVONthink

    Document and information manager for Mac, iPhone and iPad

    • DEVONthink starts at $99 one-time license, with 2 Mac seats and 1 year of updates. QOwnNotes is free.
    • QOwnNotes has a free plan. DEVONthink does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only DEVONthink lists a web app.
    • Only DEVONthink lists an iOS app.
    DEVONthink pricing and details

  2. Octarine

    Local Markdown notes app with daily notes, views and optional AI

    • Octarine starts at $79 one-time purchase. QOwnNotes is free.
    • Only QOwnNotes lists an Android app.
    • Octarine can be bought with a one-time purchase.
    • QOwnNotes is open source, according to its own site.
    Octarine pricing and details

  3. NotePlus

    Native Markdown notes app with kanban boards and AI chat

    • NotePlus starts at $29 one-time purchase (Basic license, 1 computer). QOwnNotes is free.
    • Only NotePlus lists an iOS app.
    • Only QOwnNotes lists Linux and Android apps.
    • Only QOwnNotes lists a browser extension.
    NotePlus pricing and details

  4. MiaoYan

    Native Mac Markdown notes app with a split editor and preview

    • MiaoYan starts at $12.99 one-time purchase (App Store edition). QOwnNotes is free.
    • Only MiaoYan lists an iOS app.
    • Only QOwnNotes lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
    • Only QOwnNotes lists a browser extension.
    MiaoYan pricing and details

  5. UpNote

    Cross-platform notes app with a lifetime purchase option

    • UpNote starts at $1.99 per month, or $39.99 once for lifetime (Premium). QOwnNotes is free.
    • Only UpNote lists an iOS app.
    • UpNote can be bought with a one-time purchase.
    • QOwnNotes is open source, according to its own site.
    UpNote pricing and details

  6. Tinderbox

    Mac tool for mapping, analyzing and sharing notes

    • Tinderbox starts at $289 one-time license, with a year of free updates. QOwnNotes is free.
    • QOwnNotes has a free plan. Tinderbox does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only QOwnNotes lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
    • Only QOwnNotes lists a browser extension.
    Tinderbox pricing and details

  7. Keep It

    Notebook and document organizer for Mac, iPhone and iPad

    • Keep It starts at $2.99 in-app subscription on the Mac App Store (billing period not labelled). QOwnNotes is free.
    • QOwnNotes has a free plan. Keep It does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only Keep It lists an iOS app.
    • Only QOwnNotes lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
    Keep It pricing and details

  8. EagleFiler

    Document organizer and mail archiver for Mac

    • EagleFiler starts at $69.99 one-time purchase. QOwnNotes is free.
    • QOwnNotes has a free plan. EagleFiler does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only QOwnNotes lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
    • Only QOwnNotes lists a browser extension.
    EagleFiler pricing and details

  9. FSNotes

    Open-source Markdown notes app for Mac and iPhone

    • FSNotes starts at $4.99 one-time for iPhone and iPad; $8.99 one-time for Mac. QOwnNotes is free.
    • Only FSNotes lists an iOS app.
    • Only QOwnNotes lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
    • Only QOwnNotes lists a browser extension.
    FSNotes pricing and details

  10. The Archive

    Plain-text note-taking app for Mac built around Zettelkasten

    • The Archive starts at $19.99 one-time purchase. QOwnNotes is free.
    • QOwnNotes has a free plan. The Archive does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only QOwnNotes lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
    • Only QOwnNotes lists a browser extension.
    The Archive pricing and details

  11. Notebooks

    Writing, documents and tasks organized in nested books

    • Notebooks starts at $17.99 one-time for iPhone and iPad; $43.99 one-time for Mac. QOwnNotes is free.
    • QOwnNotes has a free plan. Notebooks does not, though it has a free trial.
    • Only Notebooks lists an iOS app.
    • Only QOwnNotes lists Linux and Android apps.
    Notebooks pricing and details

  12. GitJournal

    Mobile Markdown notes app that syncs through any Git repository

    • GitJournal starts at $1.99 per month in installments, or $31.99 one-time (US App Store minimums). QOwnNotes is free.
    • Only GitJournal lists an iOS app.
    • Only QOwnNotes lists Windows, macOS and Linux apps.
    • Only QOwnNotes lists a browser extension.
    GitJournal pricing and details

38 more that can be bought with a one-time purchase

All 50 in one table

Common questions

Is there an alternative to QOwnNotes that you buy once?

Yes. DEVONthink, Octarine, NotePlus, MiaoYan, UpNote, Tinderbox, Keep It, EagleFiler and 42 more can be bought with a one-time purchase.

Can you buy QOwnNotes once instead of subscribing?

The QOwnNotes listing shows no one-time purchase. The listing was checked on Oct 9, 2026 against the pages it cites.

Which of these note-taking apps are free?

Octarine, NotePlus, MiaoYan, UpNote, FSNotes, GitJournal, Understory, Curio and 23 more are free or have a free plan.

When was this checked?

Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 5, 2026 to Nov 13, 2026. Vendors change prices and plans without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.

This page is built from the listings. A tool is here because its listing says so, and the order is how close each is to QOwnNotes: the alternatives its listing names first, then the tools that share the most features with it.